Page 43 of The Rancher

“How did you know?”

He lifted a brow and then smiled. “Know? Know that I’d wait for you to come to me?”

“And yet, I couldn’t. I had to kiss you. I couldn’t wait any longer. But what about Maddy? What will she think?”

“She’ll be delighted. You’re one of her favorite people. Why do you think she doesn’t join us after dinner very often? She wanted us to get to know each other.” He chuckled. “She’s been after me to ask you on a date. So, will you? Come on a date with me, that is?”

Lyris’s body felt electric. She was happy that her soon-to-be stepdaughter approved. “I’m glad Maddy approves. Yes, I will. When and what do you want to do?”

“I want this colt to get better first, but how about dinner tomorrow?

She smiled at him. “Tomorrow, it is. Dinner. See you at six?”

He grinned. His gaze never left her face, like he was trying to memorize it. “Six is perfect. I’ll pick you up from the guesthouse.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. Wear something nice.”

“Okay. Any other hints?”

He squeezed her close, gave her a quick kiss, then set her away and stood.

She stood with him.

“I need to find Will. I’ll see you later.” He tapped the tip of her nose, turned, and left.

Lyris returned to sitting on the floor with the colt.

After a few hours, the little colt started to stir.

Lyris took it as a good sign but gave him more of the charcoal. It wouldn’t hurt him, and she wanted to make sure all the poison was out of his system.

After another half hour, he curled his legs in the straw.

Lyris stood and backed out of his way.

He finally managed to stand, a little wobbly, but on his own four legs. He whinnied.

Junebug nickered and moved closer. She lowered her head and licked his face.

Lyris gave her a horse cookie from the stash she kept in her office. She always had a few in her shirt pocket. She decided on the spot to take the other bags of cookies and have them destroyed. If whoever it was knew enough to find the molasses and give it to the colt, the culprit probably knew about the two bags of cookies. Those could be poisoned, too.

She realized she’d spent all day in the barn with the colt and was starving, by the time Will showed up with one of the other ranch hands.

“Evenin’, Lyris,” said Will.

“Evening, yourself. Did Ray talk to you?”

Will nodded. “He did. You’re looking at the new stable master.”

She grinned. “He made the right call. You’ll be a great stable master. You love the animals, and they can feel it.”

“I do. I’ve always wanted to work with horses, so this is like a dream job for me.”

“That’s another reason you will be great. I should check on Majesty and Snow Princess now. You have a great evening and thank you for letting me know about the colt. You probably saved his life. Do you know who was in the barn before that, probably about an hour or two before? The poison needed time to work.”

“I had a couple of men mucking the stalls. They were assigned that chore on the worksheet Ted made. I wasn’t the stable master then. Ted was here, too. I had to have him escorted off the property. He said he came to get his last check, but that was no reason to be in the barn. Do you think he might have done it?”